Abstract

The cable includes a flat cable including a plurality of elongate conductors enclosed in an insulative casing and a drain wire supported thereon. A wire mesh ground shield overlies the casing in contact with the drain wire along its length. An upper layer of insulation overlies the ground shield and includes at one of its marginal edges a strip of insulative material extending longitudinally in registry with the drain wire. The strip provides a barrier against bonding of the insulative layer to the drain wire and to the casing material adjacent the drain wire thereby preventing pullout of the drain wire during separation of the cable core, wire mesh and layer for termination purposes. Strippability of the cable is facilitated by the non-adhesion to the strip whereby a marginal access region is provided for grasping the mesh, cable core and layer.